| "Invictus" | |
|---|---|
| Short story by William Ernest Henley | |
 | |
| Country | England |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | lyric poetry |
| Publication | |
| Publisher | Book of Versus |
| Media type | Print (periodical) |
| Publication date | 1875 |
"Invictus" is a short Victorian poem by the English poet William Ernest Henley (1849–1903).
Background edit
At the age of 12, Henley fell victim to tuberculosis of the bone. A few years later, the disease progressed to his foot, and physicians announced that the only way to save his life was to amputate directly below the knee. It was amputated when he was 17.[1] Stoicism inspired him to write this poem.[2] Despite his disability, he survived with one foot intact and led an active life until his death at the age of 53.
Publication history edit
The poem was written in 1875 in a book called Book of Verses, where it was number four in several poems called Life and Death (Echoes).[3] At the beginning it bore no title.[3] Early printings contained only the dedication To R. T. H. B.—a reference to Robert Thomas Hamilton Bruce (1846–1899), a successful Scottish flour merchant and baker who was also a literary patron.[4] The title "Invictus" (Latin for "unconquered"[5]) was put in the Oxford Book of Verse by Arthur Quiller-Couch.
Quiller-Couch, Arthur Thomas (ed.) (1902). The Oxford book of English verse, 1250–1900 (1st (6th impression) ed.). Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 1019. OCLC 3737413. {{cite book}}: |first= has generic name (help)[6]
Text edit
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
Influence edit
In the 1942 film Casablanca, Captain Renault, a corrupt official played by Claude Rains recites the last two lines of the poem when talking to Rick Blaine, played by Humphrey Bogart, referring to his power in Casablanca. The irony in the reference is that the theme of the poem refers to self-mastery, when in fact all of Renault's power in Casablanca is merely granted.
In the 1945 film Kings Row, Parris Mitchell, a psychiatrist played by Robert Cummings, recites the first two stanzas of "Invictus" to his friend Drake McHugh, played by Ronald Reagan, before revealing to Drake that his legs were unnecessarily amputated by a cruel doctor.
The fourth stanza was quoted by Lachesis to Zane in Piers Anthony's novel On a Pale Horse, the first of his Incarnations of Immortality series.
While incarcerated on Robben Island prison, Nelson Mandela recited the poem to other prisoners and was empowered by its message of self mastery.[7][8]
The poem was used in a voice-over by Lucas Scott in the hit television series One Tree Hill.
Canadian poet and singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen recited the poem as an introduction to his own song "The Darkness", during a couple of shows on his 2010 world tour, most notably at his State Kremlin Palace show on October 7.[9][10]
The poem was important to Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, who recited it on the day of his execution.
The poem was used by Jack Donaghy (Alex Baldwin) to inspire Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) in the 30 Rock episode "Everything Sunny All the Time Always".
Novelist Jeffrey Archer quoted the poem in the first volume of his A Prison Diary series 'Hell' which recounted his time inside HMP Belmarsh.
The line "bloody, but unbowed" was the Daily Mirror's headline the day after the 7 July 2005 London bombings.[11]
The Burmese opposition leader and Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi stated, "This poem had inspired my father, Aung San, and his contemporaries during the independent struggle, as it also seemed to have inspired freedom fighters in other places at other times." [12]
Importance of Invictus edit
William Ernest Henley is known to most people by virtue of this single poem.[13] The word "Invictus" means unconquerable or undefeated in Latin, and it represents Henley's struggle with tuberculosis, which he developed while he was still very young. This poem has been very influential and has acted as a powerful message to many people and political figures. This poem illustrates the true meaning of courage, even in the face of death, and creates an image of holding on to one's dignity, despite the obstacles life places before us. Invictus was the fruit of a most significant personal experience-his protracted hospitalization.[14]
Relation with Nelson Mandela edit
Invictus acted as a very strong message to the Great South African Leader, Nelson Mandela. Mandela was inspired by this poem, so he wrote it on a piece of scratch paper and kept it in his prison cell while he was incarcerated for 27 years. The movie Invictus (film) presented more information on Mandela's thoughts of Henley's poem, considering the movie is based on his life. He even admitted that he probably would not have made it through the long years in prison if it weren't for the worlds of this English poet. After the poem that William Ernest Henley wrote inspired Nelson Mandela, he was eventual released and then elected as South Africa's first president.[14]
Thoughts on Creating This Poem edit
As mentioned previously, Henley was in the hospital for cases of tuberculosis that caused an intense surgery on one foot and a the amputation of one leg. The amputation occurred first, and it was said to be very painful. Immediately after his first leg was amputated, he received news that another operation would have to be done on his other leg. However, he decided to enlist in the help from a different doctor named Joseph Lister. Since he was now under Lister's care, he was able to keep his other leg with only a surgery on his remaining foot.[15] After the surgery, he healed in the infirmary, and this happens to be when the idea for Invictus emerged in his head. This time period in his life, and the addition of an impoverished childhood both play a major role in the meaning behind the poem and it is also the prime reason for this poems existence. [16]
Meaning behind Invitctus edit
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
The first stanza represents a prayer that takes place in the dark by the speaker of the poem. In this prayer, he is thanking "whatever gods may be" for his unconquerable soul, which infers the possible darkness of despair. The speaker, however, is not praying for strength but giving thanks to the strength he already has. On the other hand, he seems rather dismissive about who he is praying to and portray agnosticism.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
The agnosticism continues into the second stanza due to not mentioning anything about God's will for him, or his fate. Instead, he uses "In the fell clutch of circumstance" to mean he is being cruelly caught as prey in the claws of life at its most unpredictable moments. Bludgeoning has the definition of being beaten or forced down, and Henley uses this to depict a very powerful message of inner strength. This certain strength that is presented includes the ability to conquer the troubles of life even if someone is beaten down.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
In the third stanza, the speaker introduces his feelings of the afterlife, and that he believes it does not exist. In fact, in this part of the poem he explains that death is merely an escape from this life, and an end to the suffering. He is not concerned about what happens after death, and he represents that by not being worried about the end.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
This last stanza is a major contributor to the fame of this poem, given that these last few lines hold the greatest meaning and the main message. By mentioning "It matters not how strait the gate," the speaker makes a reference to John Bunyan's The Strait Gate or Great Difficulty of going to Heaven by accepting whatever judgment, or doom, death may bring. He is, in fact, his own god, guide and judge. He is the Captain. [14]
The analysis of this poem depicts Henley's life, and represents the moments of pain and struggle that created many obstacles for him. Although he did indeed face many challenges, in time, he realized he was the sole controller of his fate. By writing this poem, he conveyed a message with bravery and perseverance, which he applied to his own life as well. Through Invictus, Henley demonstrated the message of determination, courage and the will to survive.
Representation edit
William Ernest Henley was an atheist, and this is represented in many ways through the poem. For example, the lines "I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul" suggest that man is his own "god." By this, the speaker means that he can manage his own destiny without any need of instruction from a creator. As a matter of fact, Henley's poem Invictus is said to be an affirmation of his atheism, therefore indications of this outlook on life exist in the poem. Looking deeply into the meaning of this poem, it is apparent that he is praying to and thanking "whatever gods" whose nature and existence is uncertain to the speaker. This poem merely represents predestination and the philosophy of determination while presenting a humanistic attitude. The last part of the poem emphasizes the atheist position by reinforcing that man makes decisions for himself, and until he decides to give up, he remains unconquered. Invictus. [17]
References edit
- ^ Flora, Joseph (1970). William Ernest Henley. Twayne Publishers, Inc. p. 15.
- ^ Spartans and Stoics - Stiff Upper Lip - Icons of England Retrieved February 20, 2011
- ^ a b Henley, William Ernest (1888). A book of verses. London: D. Nutt. OCLC 13897970.
- ^ For example in Henley, William Ernest (1891). A book of verses (3rd ed.). New York: Scribner & Welford. OCLC 1912116.
- ^ "English professor Marion Hoctor: The meaning of 'Invictus'". CNN. 2001-06-11. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
- ^ Wilson, A.N. (2001-06-11). "World of books". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2009-12-14.
- ^ Daniels, Eddie (1998) There and back: Robben Island, 1964-1979. p.244. Mayibuye Books, 1998
- ^ Boehmer, Elleke (2008). "Nelson Mandela: a very short introduction". Oxford University Press.
'Invictus', taken on its own, Mandela clearly found his Victorian ethic of self-mastery
- ^ leonardcohenforum.com report
- ^ YouTube video of Cohen's Moscow recitation
- ^ [1]
- ^ Aung San Suu Kyi in BBC Reith Lecture, 2011-06-28
- ^ University of California Press http://www.jstor.org.www2.lib.ku.edu:2048/stable/3817033?seq=1
- ^ a b c "What is the meaning of 'Invictus'". wiki answers.
- ^ poem analysis http://sites.google.com/site/jreedeshs/home/invictus-analysis
- ^ biography of William Ernest Henley http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/william-ernest-henley
- ^ Wayne Jackson's Atheistic Religion in the Classroom http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/112-atheistic-religion-in-the-classroom